So far we have 100 signed up and approximately $10,000 pledged for the first annual
Hawaii Walk From Obesity. Registration can be done
online or the day of the Walk at 8 am Sunday, December 16, 2012 at Magic Island in Ala Moana. Hope to see you all there. I broke my foot, so look for the sitting surgeon directing traffic. Come support the first walk of its kind in Hawaii! —
Dr. Fowler
Hawaii’s First Annual Walk From Obesity is December 16th, 2012 at 8am at Ala Moana Beach Park.
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In the realm of healthy snacks and meal replacements, there’s a whole range of products ranging from the “surprisingly good” to the “disgusting.” It seems that the market is flooded products that taste closer to the latter.
We recently obtained samples from Healthwise, and we were pleasantly surprised by a couple of their products.
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have confirmed the removal of the Non-Covered status indicator for Sleeve Gastrectomy beginning October 1, 2012.
Recent events have been favorable for the continued wide-spread acceptance of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. CMS, which governs Medicare policy, initially decided against covering the sleeve outside of research protocols back in October of 2011. Through much lobbying by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, CMS reconsidered its decision and submitted a reversal in June of this year.
Another step in the right direction occurred at the end of August, when the decision was made to officially remove the “Non-Covered” status for the Sleeve. This is a clear message to the regional carriers to start covering the Sleeve Gastrectomy starting this Fall. It’s about time Medicare beneficiaries are given access to this life-changing procedure!
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Some of you guys already know this great news… HMSA now covers the Sleeve with the same criteria as for the Gastric Bypass and Band. Basically, a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy can be considered for individuals with a BMI greater than 40, or a BMI greater than 35 with some significant health condition.
This has been a long time coming. I remember three years of meetings with the HMSA directors, advising them of the need to cover this procedure with the standard bariatric criteria. It’s about time for the Sleeve to be considered a viable option for surgical weight loss!
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